Versatile bracket



Dec. 13, 1960 c. o. LARSON 2,964,123

VERSATILE BRACKET Filed April 3. 1958 INVENTOR. CHARLES O. LARSON UnitedStates Patent VERSATILE BRACKET Charles 0. Larson, 807 W. th St.,Sterling, 11]. Filed Apr. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 726,089

3 Claims. (Cl. 182-181) This invention relates to sawhorses, trestlesand the like and to brackets for assembling legs and crosspieces to formsuch devices.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsawhorse, trestle or the like in which the legs of the sawhorse havesubstantially the entire upper end thereof supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of the typeset forth a structure in which the legs can be slipped into positioneasily and quickly and can be thereafter rapidly fastened in supportingposition.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the typeset forth which can utilize either pipes pr wood dowels having roundedupper ends as the support egs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure in whichthe position of the legs with respect to the other portions of thestructure is quickly and accurately determined, the leg being clamped inthe predetermined position quickly and easily.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bracket foruse in assembling sawhorses, trestles and the like which when assembledwith. suitable legs and a crosspiece will produce a device fulfillingthe objects set forth above.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing. In the drawing wherein like reference numeralshave been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

Figure l is a perspective view of a sawhorse made in accordance with andembodying the principles of the present invention, the sawhorse beingassembled using brackets also made in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view with certain portions broken away ofthe sawhorse assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the portion of the sawhorse illustratedin Figure 2 and substantially as seen in the direction of the arrowsalong the line 3-3 thereof;

Figure 4 is a side view of the portion of the sawhorse illustrated inFigure 2 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along theline 44 thereof, the bracket being shown attached to the crosspiece in aposition such that the legs define a plane substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the crosspiece;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the bracket attached tothe crosspiece whereby to place the legs in a position such that a planedefined thereby is dis- 2,964,123 Patented Dec. 13, 1960.

2 posed at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of thecrosspiece; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the upper end of a wood dowel leg thatcan be used in place of the pipe legs illustrated in Figures 1 through 5of the drawing.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawing there is shown a sawhorseassembly generally designated by the numeral 10 made in accordance withand embodying the principles of the present invention. The sawhorse 10includes a crosspiece 12 and four legs 14, the legs being arranged intwo pairs with one pair disposed at one end of the crosspiece l2 and theother pair arranged adja-' cent the other end thereof. Each leg 14 isheld in converging relationship with the associated end of thecrosspiece 12 by means of a bracket generally designated by the numeral16. The crosspiece 12 is in general rectangular in cross section as maybe best seen from Figures l and 2 of the drawing and may be preferablyformed of wood. The legs 14 in the form of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 through 5 of the drawing are formed of hollow pipe which maybe formed of any suitable material such as iron. More specifically, thecrosspiece 12 may be formed of 1" x 6" lumber in which case the pipesforming the legs 14 may be %1." pipes. Alternatively, the crosspiece 12may be formed of 2" x 6" lumber in which case the legs 14 will be 1 /2"pipes.

The construction of the brackets 16 can be best seen from Figures 2, 3and 4 of the drawing. Each bracket 16 includes a pair of attachmentflanges 18, the flanges 18 being formed to lie with the surfaces thereofin common planes. The adjacent edges 20 of the attachment flanges 18 aredisposed substantially parallel to each other and are spaced apart whenthe flanges are assembled with the crosspiece 12 as is best illustratedin Figure 3 of the drawing. The outer edges 22 of the attachment flanges18 are disposed at an acute angle with respect to the adjacent edges 20whereby the upper end of the attach ment flanges 18 as viewed in Figure4 are slightly wider than the lower ends thereof.

There is provided integral with each of the flanges along the edge 20thereof an outwardly extending support flange 24, each flange 24 beingdisposed substantially perpendicular to the associated attachment flange18. The two support flanges 24 are disposed substantially parallel toeach other and extend outwardly away from the associated crosspiece inuse. As may be best seen in Figure 2 the upper edge 26 of each of theflanges 24 is substantially shorter than the lower edge 28 thereof.

Interconnecting the two support flanges 24 is a partcylindrical legreceiving portion 30. The portion 30 is shaped so that the internaldiameter thereof is slightly greater than the pipe leg 14 to be receivedtherein. Preferably the portion 30 extends from the lower edge 28 of thesupport flanges 24 upwardly to the upper edge 26 thereof.

When assembling the sawhorse 10, a pair of brackets 16 is attached tothe crosspiece 12 adjacent to one end thereof. To this end theattachment flanges 18 are each provided with openings therein to receivebolts 32. The crosspiece 12 is also provided with suitable aperturestherein to receive the bolts 32. In order to assemble the brackets 16 onthe crosspiece 12, bolt 32 is passed through each set of alignedapertures in the crosspiece 12 and the associated brackets 16. Each boltis then 3 provided with a wing nut 34 which can be quickly turned downto tightenthe brackets 16 on the crosspiece 12'.

Means is provided on each of the brackets 16 to limit the distance thatthe associated pipe leg 14 can be inserted therein. More particularly, apair of aligned apertures is provided adjacent to the upper end of eachof the leg receiving portions 30 to receive therehrough a carriage bolt36 which is provided on the other end thereof with a lock nut 38. Withthis construction, the pipes 34 can be quickly inserted in the legreceiving portions 30 and the bolts 36 determine the position of the leg14 in the associated bracket 16.

Once the pipe leg 14 has been inserted into position, it is desirable totighten the leg receiving portion 30 thereabout whereby firmly to clampthe pipe leg 14 in operative supporting position. To this end the legreceiving portion 30 is formed of a bendable material such as metal andis formed of a gauge of metal such that it can be deformed whereby toclamp about the leg 14. The support flanges 24 are also formed resilientat their junction with the attachment flanges 18. Aligned apertures arealso provided adjacent to the lower edge 28 of the support flanges 24 toreceive therethrough a carriage bolt 40'. A wing nut 42 is provided onthe outwardly extending threaded end' of the carriage bolt 40. Upontightening of the wing nut 42, the edges of the support flange to whichthe leg receiving portion is attached will be forced toward each otherwhereby slightly to deform the leg receiving portion 30 about pipe 14 toclamp the upper end of the pipe 14 therein.

In order to make thesawhorse assembly of Figure 10, the crosspiece 12 isfirst provided with the two rows of aligned apertures adjacent to eachend to receive the bolts 32 therethrough. The brackets 16 are thenplaced on opposite sides of the crosspiece 12 and the bolts 32 in sortedin the aligned apertures. After the wing nuts 34 have been tightenedupon the bolts 32, the brackets 16 are firmly assembled on thecrosspiece 12.

If the bolts 36 have not been placed in operative posi tion heretofore,they are now positioned as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Next thepipes 14 are slipped into the leg receiving portions 30. The bolt 40 ispositioned through the aligned apertures in the support flanges 24 andthe wing nuts 42 tightened thereon. This serves to clamp the legreceiving portion 30 firmly about the adjacent end of the leg 14. Afterthese operations have been repeated at the other end of the crosspiece12, the sawhorse assembly is ready for use.

If it is desired to store the sawhorse assembly in a more compact form,the wing nuts 42 are loosened whereby to permit easy and quick removalof the leg 14. In many instances it will be desirable to store thecrosspiece 12 with the four brackets 16 attached thereto. The assembly10 is ready for immediate use upon insertion of the legs 14 andtightening of the wing nuts 42. v

I Wooden legs may be used in place of the metal pipes 14. For examplewhen the bracket 16 is of a size to receive a 4 inch iron pipe it canalso be used with a one inch wooden dowel. Similarly, when the brackets16 are of a size to receive a 1 /2 inch pipe, they can be used with twoinch dowels.

There is shown in Figures 6 the upper end of a wooden dowel leg whichcan be used with the brackets 16 in forming the sawhorse assembly 10.The leg is generally designated by the numeral 44 and includes a section46 which is substantially square in cross section. The upper end of theleg 44 has the corners thereof. rounded to provide an attachment portion48 which can be inserted in. the leg, receiving portion 30 of a bracket16. A shoulder 50 is formed at the junction of the square section 46andthe attachment portion 48. In forming a sawhorse using a wooden leg44, the attachment portion 48 is inserted in the leg receiving portion30 of an associated bracket 16. The wing nut 42 can be tightened on thebolt 40 whereby to cause the leg receiving portion 300- to grip theattachment portion 48 of the leg 44. In addition, a pair of apertures 52is formed in each side of each leg receiving portion 30 to receive E-Zpull out nails or similar fasteners that can be driven into theattachment portion 48 through the apertures 52. The leg 44 can thereforebe readily assembled with the bracket 16 and can also be readilydisassembled therefrom for storage.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing it will be seen that thelongitudinal axis of each leg 14 and of the associated leg receivingportion is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of theattachment flanges 18. In one preferred construction, the longitudinalaxes of each pair of legs 14 define a plane which is perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the crosspiece 12. If it is desired to spreadthe ends of the legs farther from each other, the brackets 16 can betilted or canted as illustrated in Figure 5. This will have the effectof placing the lower ends of the legs 14 on one side of the crosspiecefarther away from each other. This may give a desired additionalstability in certain constructions.

It will be seen that there has been provided a sawhorse, trestle or thelike and a bracket therefor which fulfills all of the objects andadvantages set forth above. Although one preferred form of the inventionhas been shown in the drawing and described in detail, it is to beunderstood that various changes and modifications can be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only as set forth in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A bracket for interconnecting a crosspiece and a pair of legs in aconverging relationship to each other comprising an integralone-piecestructure including a pair of attachment flanges disposed in acommon plane and adapted to be connected to an associated crosspiece, asupport flange connected to each of said attachment flanges by aresilient portion and extending outwardly therefrom substantiallyperpendicular thereto and to the associated crosspiece, a resilient anddeformable part cylindrical leg receiving portion formed integral withand interconnecting said support flanges, said part-cylindrical portionbeing adapted to receive a leg therein and to extend more than 270therearound, the axis of said part-cylindrical portion being inclined atan angle to the plane of said attachment flanges, said support flangeshaving, aligned apertures therein to receive afastener therethrough, anda fastener disposed in said apertures and operative after connection ofsaid attachment flanges to the associated crosspiece to deform saidsupport flanges andsaid part-cylindrical portion whereby to reduce theeifective diameter of said part-cylindrical portion to clamp saidpart-cylindrical portion about the associated leg.

2. A bracket for interconnecting a crosspiece and a pair of legs in aconverging relationship to each other comprising an integral one-piecestructure including a pair of attachment flanges disposed in a commonplane and adapted to be connected to an associated crosspiece, a supportflange connected to each of said attachment flanges by a resilientportion and extending outwardly therefrom substantially perpendicularthereto and to the associated crosspiece, a resilient and deformablepartcylindrical leg receiving portion formed integral with andinterconnecting said support flanges, said part-cylindrical portionbeing adapted to receive a leg therein and to extend more than 270therearound, the axis of said partcylindrical portion being inclined atan angle to the plane of said attachment flanges, abutment meanspositioned in said part-cylindrical portion and adapted to abut againstand to position a leg therein, said support flange having alignedapertures therein to receive 21 ms tener' therethrou'gh, and a fastenerdisposed in said apcrtures and operative after connection of saidattachment 5 6 flanges to the associated crosspiece to deform saidattach- References Cited in the file of this patent ment flanges andsaid part-cylindrical portion whereby to reduce the effective diameterof said part-cylindrical UNITED STATES PATENTS portion to clamp saidpart-cylindrical portion about the 437 539 Warner Sept 30 1890associated leg. 5

3. A bracket as set forth in claim 2, wherein said g fi i g abutmentmeans comprise a bolt passing through aligned 1458666 i' 1923 aperturesin the leg receiving portion and the fastener 1542367 Boppe o 1925comprises a headed and threaded bolt passing through 1882479 ig? g 1932the aligned apertures in the support flanges in the wider 10 2742877 3 g1956 portion thereof and a nut engaging the threaded bolt.

